Poignant Tweet Honors Michelle Obama and Her Ancestor Who Was Born into Slavery

In one poignant tweet, filmmaker Ava DuVernay honors the incredible legacy of a woman born into slavery by showing just how far her ancestors have come since. DuVernany, who’s behind films like Selma and 13th, shared a picture of a memorial commemorating Melvinia Shields, a black woman who was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1844. Chances are, her name doesn’t ring a bell, but one of her descendants definitely will; Former First Lady Michelle Obama is Shields’ great-great-great granddaughter.